March 9, 2012

Last March I became infatuated with an acid green weed growing in the cornfield adjacent to my parent's place. I dug a few clumps and planted some in my mom's garden and some in my own. I knew it was some sort of Euphorbia, but was unsure as to the exact species. Fellow blogger Entangled suggested it may be Eurphorbia helioscopia (Sun Spurge, Madwoman's Milk), and I am now pretty sure that identification is correct. This species is a winter-blooming annual native to Europe, North Africa and Asia, and is apparently now quite at home here as well. Further reading on this plant told that although it is considered poisonous and a carcinogen, its extract is used medicinally and is easily found for sale on the web. My clump had whithered by late April of last year, and I thought that was likely the last I would see of it. This week I noticed about a dozen separate plants coming up in the hell-strip, not far from where my clump was planted. So it looks as if I have introduced this weed to my neighborhood. I am sorry neighbors!

Here is another reminder that my Winter Walk-Off 2012 is going on until Monday the 19th. All bloggers are welcome to join in.

Hate it when that happens Les! I will be posting two walk off posts next week and have linked to you. But I cheated-in the 10+ years I've lived in my house I have never ever taken a walk around the neighborhood. I did once walk home from a strawberry patch though. I'd be scared to walk around here with a camera-we are talking rural TN! So I hope that is fine-I did Clarksville Base as usual.

Here in the foothills of Colorado we have a similar species, myrtle or donkeytail spurge (E. myrsinites), that is so invasive it is now illegal to have. Yet people down in Denver continue to admire and plant it.

Here in Colorado (foothills above Denver), we have a similiar species, myrtle or donkeytail spurge. Beautiful, yes, but so invasive it is now illegal to have it. Yet folks in Denver continue to plant it.

You never know what might be a thug in your garden. If I it's invasive, I won't plant it. But if I don't know what it is and a neighbor offers, I usually can't resist giving it a try. What's life without risk?

Hi Les, I bet your neighbours love you! I can sympathize though. I often admire weeds like Goldenrod and Queen's Anne's Lace and wish they weren't so darn aggressive. This year I may try a tamed form of goldenrod in the front garden. I haven't forgotten the winter walk-off challenge.Hopefully, I'll get my post finished this weekend.

If I dug something up and planted it in my wife's garden I would probably get a visit by the law enforcement community because it would either be that illegal weed or a protected species. Of course, if it was the illegal sort it would die before I made parole and got to sample any because I am notorious from my black thumb.....and not just because I'm a retired grease monkey!